Howard Gale Evans was born on May 29, 1928 in Binger, Oklahoma to Owen and Opal (Hunt) Evans. Howard passed away on July 13, 2025 in Clinton, OK at the age of 97. He was delivered in the home by Dr. Hawn for a fee of $25.00. Howard attended school in Binger until WWII.  At that time, Howard’s parents owned Evans Chevrolet in Binger.  With the war going on, only individuals deemed critical to public safety and the war effort could purchase a car, such as doctors, farmers, firefighters, police officers and war workers.  Around 1944, metal was used for the war effort, so no cars were produced.  The Evans Family then moved to Oklahoma City, where Howard attended Taft Jr. High School.  When the war ended, The Evans Family moved back, and Howard attended Binger School.  He worked for his dad at the Chevrolet Garage. Howard was a member of the Binger Baptist Church, where he accepted Jesus Christ as his savior.  His dad was a deacon, and his mother was a secretary of the church for many years. On September 8, 1951, Howard married Hannah Loretta Opitz.  They made their home in Binger of that same year.  In January 1951, Howard was drafted into the United States Army.  He was sent to Fort Sill briefly for training, before being shipped to Korea.  He was stationed about one mile from the front line.  While tossing a grenade from a trench, he was shot in the back of the neck, and captured by Chinese troops.  Howard stated that possibly all other GIs in his unit perished.  Howard was a POW for over 21 months.  After his release, he returned home to Binger, and worked for his dad at Evans Chevrolet.  He later went to work for, and retired with the United States Postal Service as a rural mail carrier.  He and Loretta had four daughters, and made their home in Binger.

Howard enjoyed visiting with his fellow POW friends every year that he was able to attend their meetings, which were held across the country.  He was interested in the history of his community and genealogy.  He liked listening to Jazz and Big Band musicians like Duke Ellington, The Dorsey Brothers, Glenn Miller, Henry Mancini, and others.  He loved cars as a child, and went on to have a knowledge and appreciation for cars for all of his life.  He was an exceptional pianist and he loved his pet cat, Frosty.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Loretta (Opitz) Evans, his little brother Wayne Evans, and his parents, Owen and Opal (Hunt) Evans.

He is survived by his four daughters: Paula James and husband Joe Edd of Binger; Jan Evans of Binger; Lori Cart and husband Jeff of Binger; and Allison Taylor and husband Rodney of Stillwater.  Grandchildren:  Jason James and wife Deidra, and their daughters Addy and Ella of Piedmont, Oklahoma; Lindsay Potts and husband Bryant, and their son Corbin of Ft. Cobb; Holli Stock and husband Mike, their children, Hannah, Spencer and Joe of Binger; Ashleigh Cawthon and husband Kenneth, and their son Lane of Binger; Candice Cart and children, Brady, Rally, and Crew of Binger; Caitlyn Blackburn and husband Chase, and their children, Booker and Banksy of Binger; Dylan Taylor and wife Amy, and children Henry and Adeline, of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Tyme Taylor and wife Lexi of Dallas, Texas.  His great-great grandchildren: Sayler and Foster Cooper of Ft. Cobb, OK.

Graveside Service:  Thursday, July 17, 2025 at Murray Cemetery, Binger, OK, 10:00 a.m.

Officiating:  Rev. Dennis King

Services are under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Binger, OK.  Condolences may be sent to the family at turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com, or you can find us on facebook.com (Turner Funeral Homes).